Auburn's offense came out of the gate on fire against Vanderbilt. Working mainly out of the Ace formation, the Tigers racked up 126 total yards and jumped to a 13-0 lead.

But the Ace formation, which consisted of two tight ends with one back and the quarterback under center, mysteriously disappeared from AU's attack for most of the final three quarters.

AU gained just 82 yards after the first quarter.

"We came out in the first quarter ... and looked like the Auburn of old," center Ryan Pugh said. "We got our confidence going and then all of a sudden we completely go away from it.

"As a player, it's frustrating. As someone watching the game, I'm sure it's frustrating. To come out like that and then come out and lay an egg in the second quarter and the second half is really embarrassing on offense."

Starting running back Ben Tate, who gained 60 of those first quarter yards, said running out of the Ace formation better fits his skills.

"That's something I'm good at," Tate said. "I'm good at seeing the cutback and just hitting the hole and making somebody miss in the hole and getting my yards.

"(In the shotgun) you're kinda one-sided. Your body is turned one way so you can't really see a cutback lane. You're either forced to stick with the play or make some thing happen on your own."

Tate said he didn't know why Auburn went away from the Ace formation after the first quarter.